Fur machine



Nov. 26, 1929. F. w. HORSTMANN 1,737,087

FUR MACHINE 'Filed DSC. 23. 1926 Fifa'- 4 Fi f: ugr 5- INvEN roRlawwonsvwn/vw ATTORNWJ Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENTois-Fics EUR wenn@ Appliatiqn filed December 23, 19,26, Serial No.`156,619.

This invention relates to fur cutting or shearing machines and moreparticularly to the feeding mechanism attached to such machines. 'Y illt is important in presenting the fur surface of skins or pelts tocutting` or other devices for conditioning the fur surface to properlyposition the pelt and also to secure the pelt against movement withrespect to the feeding mechanism.

In most forms of shearing and other fur conditioning mechanism it iscustomary to employ a belt conveyor to feed the pelt past the cutting orother mechanism and usually means such as clips o r pockets are providedon the conveyor to secure ythe skins thereto. In addition it has beenthe practise where inexpensive labor is available" to resort to pinningthe skin to the conveyor.

An improvement on the above methods of securing a pelt to the conveyoris disclosed in the patent to J. Zabel, 1,600,571, accord.- ing to whicha plurality of; forwardly extending pin points are stitched in thecanvasccnveyor. These pin points extend outwardly from the surface ofthe conveyor and are ar'- rangedv in rows transversely across theconveyor. The forward edge of the pelt or, skin with the hide down isapplied to the pin points and a brush is employed to press theskin-firmly into contact with the pin points. Although this type offeeding mechanism has proven quite satisfactory it hasy failed tosatisfy the needs when 'a high quality product is desired. Furthermore,it has been found in practise that the pelts become loosenedfrom thepins, particularly when they are passing around the forward roller aboutwhich the conveyor passes, it being.- appreciated that during suchmovement the pins will be so disposed thatL the usual suction appliedvto the fur to bring the same into, cutting position will partially andat times .COHiPlQtQly lift the skins from the conveyor.

upon the form of feeding mechanism disclosed in the aforesaid patent andcomprises ,a conveyor having projecting therefrom a series of transverserows of p inpoints which are 5.0 so arranged that not only the forwardedge The present inventionw is an improvement of the pelt is secured butalso the rear edge and in addition the skin may be stretched as it isapplied to the pin points so that it is perfectly smooth. Morespecifically, the pin points-are arranged so that certain of the rowsproject toward the forward edge of the conveyor while the remainder arespaced fromthe first series and directed toward the rear edge of theconveyor. It will be apparent that by reason of Such construction a 60skin when stretched in position and secured upon the pin points will befirmly locked against the conveyor so that upon movement of the skinaround the roller adjacent the cutting mechanism it will not be effectedby the suction, Furthermore, my invention when applied to the feedingmechanism of fur machines, permits a higher quality product to beobtainedv since the cutting or treating operation will be performed in'precisely the 70 manner for which the machine is designed.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide ayconveyor mechanism to which a ski-n or pelt ymay be quickly andconveniently attached in such manner as to rigidly hold the skin uponthe conveyor throughout its movements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible conveyor belthaving means thereon for securing la skin or pelt thereto whilemaintaining the same undertension.

A further object o f the invention is to provide a conveyor with aplurality of rows of pin points so arranged as to lock a skin or peltwhen applied thereto in position while moving past the cutting or othertreating mechanism.

` Other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading ofthe following description when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a diagrammatic representationof a conveyor belt showing a practical embodiment of the presentinvention` Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a e5 pin orbarb'for holding a skin. Fig. 3 is an end view of the barb shown in 2; iFig. 4 is a front View ofthe barb shown in Fig. 2. 10o

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a conveyor belt showing several sets of barbs.

In accomplishing the end sought by the present invention I provide aflexible conveyor belt with a plurality of sets of projecting pins orbarbs. The barbs in one set are disposed at one angle to the surface ofthe l conveyor and the adjacent or complemental set are disposed atanother and opposite angle. Vhen a skin is applied to the surface of theconveyor one portion of the skin is first applied to one set of barbs.The bails of this set point in the direction of movement of the conveyorand the skin may thus be readily secured and stretched, one end of theskin being held while the conveyor moves. Vhen the first portion of theskin has been attached the remaining portion is slightly stretched andapplied to the other set of op positely directed barbs. When the twosets of barbs have entered the surface of the skin it will be evidentthat it is not only retained for movement along with the conveyor butthat it is actually attached to the conveyor against relative movementin any direction. As the skin passes over the roller portion of theconveyor it is further stretched and presents the fur surface to thecutting mechanism in a positive and uniform manner.

An embodiment of the present invention may comprise a belt 10 of canvasor other suitable flexible material mounted for movement on a drivingroller 11 and an idler roller 12. The driving roller may be rotated by asheave or pulley 13 secured to a shaft 14 upon which the roller 11 isalso mounted. A belt 15 may transmit motion from any suity able sourceof power (not shown).

The idler roller 12 may be disposed adjacent to a shearing device 16comprising the usual rotary cutter 17 and bed knife 18. A pulley 19 maybe providedl for driving the rotary cutter in the usual manner common tothis class of machines.

The present invention aims to improve the effectiveness of the belt indelivering the skins to the cutters and as shown a belt may be providedwith a plurality of sets of projecting pins or barbsf21 and 22. The`barbs of the set 21 are slanted in the direction of the path ofmovement of the upper stretch of the conveyor. A. skin, 23 may,therefore, be applied to the barbs of the set 21 and the portion 25pressed thereon for attachment and as the conveyor moves the unattachedportion 24 of the skin may be retained and the barbs 21 will thus becomeinserted into the hide or smooth surface of the skin. The skin may beplaced under a slight tensional stress at which time the portion 211 maybe laid upon the set of pins 22 and as the skin is released andcontracts by reason of its inherent elasticity the barbs of the set 22will enter the surface of the skin and the same will be held in positionin inti mate contact with the conveyor for delivery to the shearingdevice. As the skin moves about theroller 12 of the conveyor it isfurther stretched to such a degree as to bring it in firm contact withthe rounded surface of the conveyor. This results in a presentation ofthe fursurface 25 of the skin to the cutters in a uniform and effectivemanner.

The several sets of pins or barbs may be made in any suitable manner. Anexample of a barb or barb-member 26 that has been found satisfactory isshown more clearly in Figs. 2 through 4. This barb-member includes twopoints 27 and 28 disposed at an angle to a base portion 29. Theconstruction of the barb-member is such that the point or engagingportion of the member is so positioned that the pull of a skin will tendto raise the base portion 29. This base, is, however, bent to provide anappreciable amount of area and may be secured between layers 31 and 32which may constitute the conveyor belt 10. By securing the layerstogether between and across the bases or foot portions 29 of thebarb-members 26 the points 27 and 23 which project through the upperlayer of the belt are held securely in place since the pull is in a pathsubstantially parallel to the plane in which the bases lie while anytendency to tip is strongly opposed by the contact between the bases`and the canvas.

When a conveyor is provided with a plurality of sets of barbs it isdesirable to have some clear visible indication as to the beginning ofeach set, that is, the set of barbs to which the skin is to be firstapplied. As shown in Fig. 8 suitable markers may be employed comprisinga strip 33 of a color contrasting with the surface of the conveyor.

It has been found that by reason of the present invention the speed ofproduction is greatly increased. This will be appreciated from the factthat whereas when other means have been employed for securing a skin toa conveyor it was necessary for the operator to hold the skin inposition until well on its way in the shearing operation, With thepresent conveyor, the operator can quickly apply the skin to any portionof the surface of the conveyor and it will be carried along to theshearing device without danger of accidental displacement. i

The speed of a machine may, therefore, be greatly increased owing to thepresent meansof quickly applying the skin which when considered with theeffectiveness of the delivery of the skin to the cutters makes itevident that the invention is a decided advance step in the art.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and describedherein, it is to be understood that modifications may be made thereinWithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a machine of the character described, a conveyor for moving a skinand a plurality of spaced and oppositely directed barbs for engaging` askin.

2. In a machine of the character described, a conveyor for moving a skinand a plurality of series of barbs associated With said conveyor, oneseries of barbs being adapted for securing one end of a skin and anotherseries of barbs being adapted to secure another end of a skin, therespective series being oppositely directed to effect an intimaterelation between the skin and the conveyor.

3. A conveyor belting having a plurality of projecting pointed membersin spaced relation and positioned in alternately opposite angularrelation to the surface of the conveyor, said conveyor having a markingalong the edge of certain of said members.

4. A conveyor belting having a plurality of sets of projecting pointedmembers, said sets being arranged in alternately opposite angularrelation to the conveyor, and a marker adjacent alternate sets of saidmembers.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FREDERICK W. HORSTMANN.

